By Seattle Times news services

AMSTERDAM — A Dutch court has ordered the brother of slain former Mariners outfielder Greg Halman provisionally released after prosecutors joined the defense in asking for his acquittal on manslaughter charges.

Jason Halman is believed to have fatally stabbed his older brother after the two quarreled about loud music in the early hours of Nov. 21, 2011. During Jason Halman's trial, psychiatrists said he was having a psychotic episode at the time of the killing, which took place in an apartment they were sharing in Rotterdam.

Reports says Jason Halman has agreed to supervision by a probation officer and he could be ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment. Halman's mother reportedly told the court that both sons are victims in the case.

Judges at the Rotterdam District Court are expected to rule on Aug. 30.

Greg Halman hit .230 in 35 games for the Mariners in 2011.

Owners approve sale of Padres

The O'Malleys are back in the baseball business.

Back in Southern California, too, just down the road in San Diego instead of Los Angeles.

In a quick vote Thursday, Major League Baseball owners approved the sale of the Padres to a group that includes Kevin and Brian O'Malley, the sons of former Dodgers owner Peter O'Malley.

Under the deal, the group will buy the franchise for around $800 million. The final closing of the sale will be on or before Aug. 31.

Ron Fowler, a local businessman in San Diego, will become the executive chairman. The new ownership group also consists of Peter and Tom Seidler, the nephews of Peter O'Malley, along with golfer Phil Mickelson.

San Diego fans hope a change in owners can energize the Padres, who regularly have had one of baseball's lowest payrolls and have largely struggled since reaching the 1998 World Series. The Padres are 52-67 this season and sit in fourth place in the NL West.

The price for this sale was inflated thanks to a deal with Fox and the recent sale of the Dodgers for $2 billion.

Notes

• Giants general manager Brian Sabean, in his first public comments since Melky Cabrera's 50-game suspension, expressed shock and disappointment. "It was deflating," Sabean said Thursday. "I didn't see something like this coming. We've all been around this game a long time and you're used to making changes and adjustments. But you get punched in the stomach, and you've got no choice but to figure out how to move on."

Cabrera, the All-Star game MVP, received a 50-game suspension for a positive testosterone test. Cabrera might have cost himself tens of millions with this — he becomes a free agent after this season.

Cabrera is batting .346 with 11 home runs and 60 RBI in his first season with San Francisco and is five hits shy of 1,000 in his big-league career.

"That is crushing, obviously, just to hear that our best hitter's not going to be in the lineup," pitcher Tim Lincecum said.

• Infielder Wilson Betemit has been placed on the 15-day disabled list by the Orioles with torn cartilage in his right wrist and a bone bruise.

• The Rockies activated Michael Cuddyer from the 15-day disabled list. He missed 11 games because of a strained right oblique.